Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-03-01
TUESDAY. MARCH l, 1887.
Our Defences.

lnere mas bttu SoOd NOoi Va NA
necessary censure of those members OF
Congress who have had the temerity to
declare that there is no good reason for
appropriating money TO strengthen our
coast defences, nor TO enlarge our navy,
nor to buy big guns-those congress
men, in o word, who know that Sir
WILLIAM JoSEs's definition of what
constitutes a State is still true. We
have scanned with interest the debates
in the House of Representatives last
Saturday upon this point, and we were
particularly struck with the speeches
of Mr.. BLAND, of Missouri, and Mr.
OATES, OF Alabama. Mr.. BLAND con-
densed the argument into nutshell.
He said:
Mr.. Bland: Within the last twenty
years, Mr.. Chairman, We have squan-
dered on this navy over half a billion
OF the public money, under the same
protexts that we are here to-day asked
to vote large appropriation to increase
the navy, because foreign powers are
doing so, and because we must prepare
for war in time of peace. Over $780,
OO0, GOO have been squandered under
this pretext in years past money which
should have been applied to the pay
ment of the public debt and the relief
of the people from the burdens OF in
terest. Now, if we want to prepare for
war, let us begin by wiping out the
one billion of interest bearing debt we
have to-day, and then we are ready for
ANYTHING that may arise. This can be
done easily by stopping these wasteful
and unnecessary appropriations and ap-
plying the money to the payment OF
the public debt.
Why, Germany to-day, in orderto hold
her people in bondage and subject to
taxation, is making the pretext of war
against France and France is taxing
her people to death to prepare for war
under the pretence that it is defending
against Germany. We are called upon
here to further burden the American
people on the plea that the whole world
may dump their ornaments down upon
lis and destroy some seaboard city. l
repeat, sir, that the proper way, and
the only way, to prepare for war
IN time of peace, is to build
up the citizens of the country IN
their wealth and prosperity, wipe out
national and State debts, and then,
when war comes, we will be in situa-
ton TO meet it for at last all success in
war depends upon the financial ability
of the people to carry it on, and In
order to be prepared financially for any
war that may come, we want in time of
peace to stop this infamous policy of
imposing burdens upon the people to
continue taxation for the purpose of
perpetuating the public debt.
We are in no danger of war, and
this whole bill, for the purpose OF
building fast cruisers and war-ships, is
simply an excuse to tax the people of
tie country in order TO squander in a
few large cities the amount of the APP
propiiation-aperfectly useless expend-
iture of money-as has been shown by
the operations Of twenty years past,
during which time, as L have said. five
hundred millions have been expended
sduanderod-in such useless protection
rs these ships are said 70 afford.
That was well said. The facts that
Germany Is appealing to her people to
vote men and money TO the Govern
Inent because Germany is in danger of
being attacked by France, and that
France is making similar appeals to her
people because she is threatened by
Germany, ought to serve as warning
to Congress not to be carried away by
lhc clamor in this country. Mr.. OATES
made one striking remark-namely,
that an armed nation, like an armed
man, was the one most likely to go to
war. We quote:
"Rut, sir, whenever nation, like an
individual, is weaponed-armed to the
tee.h-and prepared for war, that ma
ton will soon find some pretext for it.
Belt a pistol around the most peaceable
citizen and let him never go among
men without it, and ere long that mans
character will undergo a change, and
he will shoot some one or be involved
in personal rencontre with his fellow
man.
All of which We commend to the Sc
rious attention of Virginia's congress
men.
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